While he was still limited in practice on Wednesday with due to his knee injury, Chris Culliver made it clear that the Redskins should be all business this week.

With a showdown against the defending Super Bowl champs looming, Washington Redskins cornerback Chris Culliver wanted to set the tone at Wednesday's practice.

As the Redskins transitioned over to 1-on-1 drills, usually the last period of practice that is open to the media, Culliver went head-to-head with practice squad wide receiver Corey Washington.

After getting tangled, Culliver and Washington had a competitive exchange, the type players have all the time during practice, before the cornerback, in a boisterous tone, asked for a rematch.

It's that time of intensity Culliver, who was limited in practice, brings each day.

"Me coming in here, you know what type of guy I am, just playing and competing, just giving enthusiasm to my guys and to get them up," Culliver said. "Sometimes I get a lackadaisical practice…or something like that, you just want to bring that energy to them guys and let them know let's go, let's keep competing, and not play to the competition, not play to the level of our competition."

Culliver said moments like the one that happened at practice today, those that can grab the entire team's attention, can give "that extra push."

"Really, this is a big week for us and we're going to need all guys running to the ball," Culliver said. "All guys doing their part collectively. So we out there just competing and playing."

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said Culliver "brings a competitive fire to practice" that "rubs off on everybody."

"You need that at practice, especially against the team that we're getting ready to play," Gruden said. "He's got a great competitive spirit about him and when he's out there he plays hard. It's good to have him back out there as a welcomed addition to practice for the limited time he was out there."

The Redskins will, though, want to play to their level of competition this weekend, especially on defense. 

Led by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, the Patriots currently have the league's No. 2 passing attack.

For Culliver, if he does play, the University of South Carolina product could be moved all over the field in an attempt to slow down the team's multiple weapons.

That could even mean keeping an eye on three-time first-team All-Pro Rob Gronkowski.

"They do a lot of different things to create different matchups," Culliver said. "So he's a good player, [No.] 87, so you got to match up, you got to know and expect that the ball coming to him."

Culliver has not played since the Redskins' Week 4 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 4, but it was clear throughout that game that the five-year veteran was far from his usual self.

"He didn't feel like himself," Gruden said. "I think he just wanted to get back to 100 percent. He felt like he didn't play his best game, didn't feel right. So we're trying to get him back to 100 percent where he has the pain not there anymore. I think he's getting better. He's done everything he can to get better. He's done everything with the trainers; treatment, been on time, done everything right."

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